Post Patrick Mahomes’ Sideline Meltdown, Will the NFL Finally Pay Heed to the Emerging Officiating Crisis?

Patrick Mahomes’ Sunday rollercoaster ride went from celebrations to frustrations in a snap. Down by three against the Buffalo Bills with just 90 seconds left on the clock, the Kansas City Chiefs orchestrated what could have been an epic, jaw-dropping touchdown. Alas, a yellow flag threw a flag on our hopes, courtesy of Toney’s untimely offsides penalty. Three consecutive incomplete passes later, dreams of a miraculous comeback shattered. To add salt to the wound, the two-time NFL MVP unleashed a sideline tirade, helmet-slamming and all. Teammates held him back as he got into a heated argument with an official.

In the grand tradition of prime-time NFL, it seems like ages since a full-fledged officiating blunder made it to the center stage. The Chiefs vs. Bills showdown gave us a front-row seat to a classic officiating error. Welcome back, NFL officiating crisis; your return was worth the wait.

Gridiron gambles: NFL officiating crisis takes center stage

Every NFL season brings those moments that make you squint at the TV and question the referee’s call. I guess Sunday night turned into one of those head-scratching episodes. Let’s just say the officiating crew had a rough night despite the NFL’s officiating inconsistencies being practically an annual tradition. The board and Commissioner Roger Goodell kept defending the quality of officiating in recent years, further stating that the upkeep of officiating consistency will be their main priority.  Yet, every game feels like a gamble.

Most officiators are part-time, as many have jobs outside the league. While many observers have advocated for making all of the officials full-time NFL employees, they believe it will give the officials more time to study and train. Yet others state there won’t be a significant difference.

Read More: Patrick Mahomes & Travis Kelce Lackluster Show Continues as Kansas City Chiefs Hit With Back-to-Back Shocking Losses

The league has instant replay, but it’s not a magic wand. Calls still slip through the cracks. The officiating inconsistencies are mostly a passing storm, forgotten by the time the offseason rolls around. It’s rare for anyone — players, coaches, or even fans — to be delighted with referees. But people across the NFL have become increasingly upset with officials in recent weeks after a stretch of challenging moments.

Referees replay and the lingering question on the gridiron

NFL officials have been criticized for quite some time, and detractors have only grown louder. This season, the officials weren’t just playing hard to get with Patrick Mahomes; the Eagles vs. Cowboys clash was just a sequel to the Chiefs vs. Bills. And oh boy, did the officials fumble the calls – a whopping five times! Mahomes wasn’t spared either. Last week, the Chiefs’ showdown with the Packers was a no-call event. There have been several other occasions of officiating inconsistencies, like when the pass interference was not called during the final play of Bills vs. Giants, and when the refs threw a late flag as the Jets tackled Mahomes.

It was also noted that the NFL has tried to improve officiating by distributing weekly videos to every official team representative to allow coaches to see how officials are being instructed. However, that hasn’t led to much improvement this season, so it remains to be seen what other avenues the league will pursue to help curb officiating mistakes. Now that the officiating crisis is back, it’s time to play the waiting game. Will there be accountability? Will the refs get a yellow card for their performance?

Editorial Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of EssentiallySports.

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